Web/JavaScript/Reference/Operators/Unsigned right shift

The unsigned right shift operator (>>>) (zero-fill right shift) shifts the first operand the specified number of bits to the right. Excess bits shifted off to the right are discarded. Zero bits are shifted in from the left. The sign bit becomes 0, so the result is always non-negative. Unlike the other bitwise operators, zero-fill right shift returns an unsigned 32-bit integer.

Syntax

a >>> b

Description

This operator shifts the first operand the specified number of bits to the right. Excess bits shifted off to the right are discarded. Zero bits are shifted in from the left. The sign bit becomes 0, so the result is always non-negative. Unlike the other bitwise operators, zero-fill right shift returns an unsigned 32-bit integer.

For non-negative numbers, zero-fill right shift and sign-propagating right shift yield the same result. For example, 9 >>> 2 yields 2, the same as 9 >> 2:

.     9 (base 10): 00000000000000000000000000001001 (base 2)
                   --------------------------------
9 >>> 2 (base 10): 00000000000000000000000000000010 (base 2) = 2 (base 10)

However, this is not the case for negative numbers. For example, -9 >>> 2 yields 1073741821, which is different than -9 >> 2 (which yields -3):

.     -9 (base 10): 11111111111111111111111111110111 (base 2)
                    --------------------------------
-9 >>> 2 (base 10): 00111111111111111111111111111101 (base 2) = 1073741821 (base 10)

Examples

Using unsigned right shift

 9 >>> 2; // 2
-9 >>> 2; // 1073741821

Specifications

Specification
ECMAScript (ECMA-262)The definition of 'Bitwise Shift Operators' in that specification.

Browser compatibility

Update compatibility data on GitHub

	Desktop						Mobile						Server
	Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Internet Explorer	Opera	Safari	Android webview	Chrome for Android	Firefox for Android	Opera for Android	Safari on iOS	Samsung Internet	Node.js
Bitwise unsigned right shift (`a >>> b`)	Chrome Full support 1	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support 1	IE Full support 3	Opera Full support 3	Safari Full support 1	WebView Android Full support 1	Chrome Android Full support 18	Firefox Android Full support 4	Opera Android Full support 10.1	Safari iOS Full support 1	Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0	nodejs Full support 0.1.100

Legend

Full support: Full support